Best 2000s Football Shirts Ranked: Top 10

The 2000s gave football some of its most recognisable shirts, from a World Cup in Japan to Champions League finals in Paris, Istanbul and Moscow. This is our ranking of the best 2000s football shirts: ten home shirts judged on design, on what they are remembered for, and on how they look as a remake today. We stock replica remakes of all ten (Brazil 2002 as a kids kit), and you can browse the full 2000s retro shirt range alongside it.

How did we rank the best 2000s football shirts?

Three things decided the order. First, design: a clear idea, clean colours and sponsor placement that does not fight the rest of the shirt. Second, the story: the match, trophy or season that the shirt is tied to. Third, how it wears as a remake, meaning a shirt that still looks right with modern jeans or a pair of trainers. We are an independent retailer of replica supporter shirts, not affiliated with any club, league or manufacturer. For wider context, see our retro football kits list.

Which are the ten best 2000s football shirts?

Shop 2000s Retro Football Shirts Jerseys

Retro Real Madrid 2008/09 Home white Jersey$ 39,99Retro Girona 2008 West Ham United Yellow Iron Maiden Jersey$ 39,99Retro Newcastle United 2005/06 Home Jersey$ 45,99

1. Brazil 2002 home – Nike

Yellow with green trim, the colours Brazil have worn since the 1950s, and the shirt of the 2002 World Cup. Brazil beat Germany 2-0 in the final in Yokohama on 30 June 2002, with Ronaldo scoring both goals. Other Brazil remakes are listed on the Brazil retro hub, and the Brazil 2002 home retro kids kit is the one for younger fans. Read more in our Ronaldo 2002 shirt story and the Nike 2002 anniversary leak.

2. Arsenal 2005/06 home – Nike

Arsenal swapped red for redcurrant, a nod to the colours worn in the club’s first season at Highbury, with gold lettering, white shorts and a gold O2 logo. It was the last season at Highbury, and the shirt became known as the “Highbury Farewell” kit. Thierry Henry scored a hat-trick in the 4-2 win over Wigan in the final home match. Arsenal also reached the 2006 Champions League final, losing 2-1 to Barcelona. Get the Arsenal 2005/06 home retro jersey, read about Henry’s Arsenal shirts or see all Arsenal retro shirts.

3. Barcelona 2005/06 home – Nike

Nike’s Total 90 template in blaugrana stripes with yellow detailing, and no sponsor on the front: UNICEF became the first name on the chest in 2006. Barcelona won the Champions League by beating Arsenal 2-1 at the Stade de France on 17 May 2006, with Samuel Eto’o and Juliano Belletti scoring after Arsenal had gone down to ten men. Our Ronaldinho 2005/06 shirt guide and Barcelona retro shirts cover the rest.

4. Liverpool 2004/05 home – Reebok

A red shirt with white trim, the Reebok mark on the chest and Carlsberg below it. It is the shirt of Istanbul: on 25 May 2005 Liverpool came back from 3-0 down against Milan, Steven Gerrard heading in the first goal in the 53rd minute, and won 3-2 on penalties after a 3-3 draw. Jerzy Dudek saved Andriy Shevchenko’s penalty to settle it. The Liverpool 2004/05 home retro jersey is the one, with more in our Gerrard 2005 shirt article and Liverpool retro shirts.

5. Italy 2006 home – Puma

Blue with navy shaded sections running from the underarm onto the sleeves, and a gold Puma logo. Italy wore it through the 2006 World Cup. In the final in Berlin on 9 July 2006 they drew 1-1 with France after extra time, then won 5-3 on penalties. The Italy 2006 home retro jersey is our remake of it.

6. AC Milan 2006/07 home – adidas

The traditional red and black stripes, with Bwin on the front. Milan beat Liverpool 2-1 in the 2007 final in Athens on 23 May, Filippo Inzaghi scoring both goals, although they wore their white away kit on the night. This is the season’s home shirt, and the AC Milan 2006/07 home retro jersey sits with the rest of our AC Milan retro shirts.

7. Inter Milan 2009/10 home – Nike

Black and blue, with Pirelli across the chest. Inter became the first Italian club to win the treble in 2009/10: Serie A, the Coppa Italia and the Champions League. Diego Milito scored both goals in the 2-0 final win over Bayern in Madrid on 22 May 2010. Choose the Inter Milan 2009/10 home retro jersey or browse Inter Milan retro shirts.

8. Manchester United 2007/08 home – Nike

Red, with AIG on the front, from the season United won the Champions League in Moscow. The final at the Luzhniki Stadium on 21 May 2008 finished 1-1 against Chelsea, Cristiano Ronaldo scoring on 26 minutes, and United won 6-5 on penalties, with Edwin van der Sar saving from Nicolas Anelka. The Manchester United 2008 home UCL final retro jersey is our version, and Manchester United retro shirts has more.

9. Spain 2008 home – adidas

Red with gold, worn by the Spain side that won Euro 2008. Fernando Torres scored the only goal in the 1-0 final win over Germany in Vienna on 29 June 2008. Get the Spain 2008 home retro jersey.

10. Netherlands 2000 home – Nike

Plain orange with black edging on the collar and sleeves, worn when the Netherlands co-hosted Euro 2000 with Belgium. Patrick Kluivert finished joint top scorer on five goals, including a 6-1 quarter-final win over FR Yugoslavia, before the Dutch lost on penalties to Italy in the semi-final after a 0-0 draw. The Netherlands 2000 home retro orange jersey closes our list.

The best 2000s football shirts compared

How should retro 2000s shirts fit?

Remakes are cut in current sizing, so they usually sit closer to a modern shirt than to the baggy cuts many of these were worn in during the 2000s. Check each product’s size chart before ordering, and go up a size if you want the looser look. If you want to understand what you are buying, read how a retro remake differs from a vintage shirt, and use our guide on how to tell what year a football shirt is when you are dating an older one.

Where can I find more 2000s retro shirts?

The full 2000s retro category goes beyond these ten, and the wider retro jersey collection covers other decades.

Related: Brazil Jerseys · Italy Jerseys · Spain Jerseys